21 days in the Philippines: Palawan, Visayas, Boracay and Siargao

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival in Manila — rest and acclimatisation

   Land at NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International), often in the middle of the night after ~15h from Europe. Pre-paid taxi or Grab from official desks (PHP 500-700 / €8-12 to Makati or BGC). No agenda tonight: the UTC+8 jet lag from Europe is brutal, and burning day 2 would be a strategic error.

   Hotel in BGC (Bonifacio Global City) — modern, safe district, well stocked with restaurants and cafés. Light dinner, hydration, sleep.

   Tips

   • · Pick up a Globe Telecom or Smart SIM at the airport (€10, 10 GB / 7 days) — public Wi-Fi is unreliable in the Philippines.
   • · Complete the eTravel form online before departure (free, mandatory since 2023, done within 72h of arrival).
2. 2

   Day 2

   Manila — Intramuros, Fort Santiago and a Poblacion evening

   Morning at Intramuros (the 16th-century Spanish fortified old town), Fort Santiago and Manila Cathedral. Allow 3h. Lunch at Barbara's for Spanish-Filipino cuisine in a colonial setting.

   Afternoon: National Museum of Fine Arts (free, Juan Luna's masterpiece *Spolarium*) or poolside rest if the heat tops 35 °C. Evening in Poblacion (Makati): craft bars, fusion restaurants, food halls — relaxed vibe, local and expat crowd. A taste of urban Philippine life before heading to the islands.

   Tips

   • · Manila traffic extremely heavy between 4pm and 8pm — Grab or taxi are the only sane options.
   • · Bank withdrawal tonight: PHP 20,000 minimum to last until Cebu, few reliable ATMs in El Nido and Coron.
3. 3

   Day 3

   Manila → El Nido flight — welcome to Palawan

   Cebu Pacific or AirSwift flight from Manila to Lio Airport (ENI), 1h25, €80-150 booked 2 months ahead. Lio is a reliable private airport 25 min from El Nido Town — shared van transfer (PHP 350 / €6) or hotel shuttle.

   Afternoon at Las Cabanas beach (15 min by tricycle from El Nido Town), sunset over the karsts for a gentle arrival. Dinner at SAVA Beach Bar or Trattoria Altrove — the best pizza in Palawan, no contest.

   Tips

   • · AirSwift's Lio Airport is far more reliable than Puerto Princesa + 5h van — the price difference is well worth the comfort.
   • · Cash is king on Palawan: few card terminals, withdraw in Manila not at El Nido's ATM (PHP 250 fee + PHP 5,000 cap per transaction).
   El Nido →
4. 4

   Day 4

   El Nido — Tour A (Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Secret Lagoon)

   The most iconic tour in Palawan. Boat at 9am, 7-8h at sea, 4-5 stops: Big Lagoon (kayak through turquoise water between cliffs, PHP 300), Small Lagoon (swim through a narrow crevice, crystal-clear water), Secret Lagoon (low-tide entry through a hole in the rock), 7 Commandos Beach. Price: PHP 1,400 / €22 including buffet lunch on the water and snorkeling masks.

   Back to port around 4:30pm. Dinner at Republica Sunset Bar — terrace facing the bay, local fruit cocktails.

   Tips

   • · Dry bag mandatory — buy one for PHP 300-350 on any El Nido street corner.
   • · Book the tour the day before via your hotel — easier and sometimes PHP 50 cheaper than beach booths.
   El Nido →
5. 5

   Day 5

   El Nido — Tour C (Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island)

   Variant of Tour A with more beaches, fewer lagoons. Highlights: Hidden Beach (the soul of Tour C, a beach entirely hidden behind a cliff, accessed by swimming), Helicopter Island (green turtle snorkeling), Matinloc Shrine (ruins of a sanctuary on a promontory), Talisay Beach. Same price: PHP 1,400 / €22.

   Tour C is less popular than A — fewer boats at each spot, better light for photography. Tours A and C are complementary with zero overlap.

   Tips

   • · Bring your own mask + snorkel — tour boat equipment is often in poor shape.
   • · Hidden Beach: arrive before 10am to beat the late-morning crowd in peak season.
   El Nido →
6. 6

   Day 6

   El Nido — Nacpan Beach and a free day

   A tour-boat-free day to breathe and explore. Morning: Nacpan Beach by tricycle (1h dirt road, PHP 1,200 round-trip) — 4 km of near-empty white sand, leaning coconut palms, radically different vibe from El Nido Town. Lunch at Tabin Beach Lodge on site.

   Back mid-afternoon. Optional diving late afternoon with Submariner Diving (Dilumacad / Helicopter Island, 2 dives PHP 4,500 / €70, Open Water + level sufficient). Dinner in town, last El Nido meal before tomorrow's ferry.

   Tips

   • · Nacpan Beach late afternoon → spectacular sunset, but head back before 6:30pm (unlit road).
   • · Dives paid in cash, price slightly negotiable in low season (May-October).
   El Nido →
7. 7

   Day 7

   El Nido → Coron via fast ferry

   Montenegro Lines or Atienza Shipping ferry El Nido → Coron, 7-8h, PHP 1,800 / €30. Departure 6 or 7am from El Nido port — calm sea in the morning, choppier in the afternoon. Packed lunch recommended (limited catering on ferries).

   Flight alternative: Lio (ENI) → Busuanga (USU), 45 min, ~€90 — viable if budget allows or weather is uncertain. Arrive in Coron early afternoon. Check in to a town hotel (Coron Town) or an over-water resort.

   Tips

   • · Ferry often cancelled in rough seas — check sea conditions 24h ahead and keep a backup flight option.
   • · In peak season (December-March), book the ferry 3-5 days ahead — seats sell out fast.
   Coron →
8. 8

   Day 8

   Coron — WWII wrecks, Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoon

   Coron is the world sanctuary of wreck diving: Japanese fleet sunk in September 1944, 7 wrecks accessible at 12-38 m depth. Boat tour combo: Twin Lagoon (turquoise stratified hot-cold water), Kayangan Lake (arguably the most beautiful freshwater lake in Asia — PHP 300 entry, 200 steps to climb), Barracuda Lake (half-fresh, half-salt lake, spectacular thermoclines), CYC Beach. Price PHP 1,500 / €24.

   Key difference from El Nido: more lakes and wrecks, fewer open beaches. More contemplative atmosphere.

   Tips

   • · Kayangan Lake: 200 steps to the viewpoint — closed shoes or sandals with a back strap.
   • · Wreck diving: Advanced level needed for deep wrecks (38 m) — guided dive possible in Open Water certification for shallow wrecks (15 m).
   Coron →
9. 9

   Day 9

   Coron — Malcapuya Island or Calauit Safari

   Two options depending on mood: (1) Malcapuya + Banana Island boat trip — very fine white sand beaches, shallow pool-blue water, much less crowded than Kayangan. Private boat PHP 5,000 (shared possible but overcrowded in peak season). (2) Calauit Safari Park — African animals imported in 1976 (giraffes, zebras, antelopes) on a northern Palawan island, surreal and unique in Southeast Asia. Van + boat transfer, PHP 4,500, full day.

   Coron Town evening: dinner at Sunset Sandbar or Levantine Restaurant. Coron has no night-life — early dinner, restful night before tomorrow's flight.

   Tips

   • · Calauit: 2h van each way, departure 6am — book the day before via a local agency.
   • · Malcapuya: insist on a private boat (PHP 5,000 for 4-6 people) — shared boats are overcrowded in peak season.
   Coron →
10. 10

    Day 10

    Coron → Cebu flight — transit to the Visayas

    Busuanga (USU) → Cebu Mactan (CEB) flight, 1h, ~€120. Transit day between Palawan and the Visayas — a chance to discover Cebu City in the evening. Time between airport arrival and hotel check-in allows dinner in central Cebu.

    Recommended area: IT Park (modern, many international restaurants) or Lahug. Cebu is a city of 2.5 million, far more urban than anything seen in Palawan — pace change before tomorrow's canyoning.

    Tips

    • · Cash withdrawal recommended in Cebu — last major city with reliable ATMs before Bohol and Boracay.
    • · Cebu airport is in Mactan, a separate island connected by two bridges — allow 45-60 min by taxi to IT Park depending on traffic.
11. 11

    Day 11

    South Cebu — Kawasan Falls and canyoning

    Full-day excursion to South Cebu (2.5h van from Cebu City, PHP 1,500 round-trip). Kawasan Falls: three-tiered turquoise waterfalls in the jungle, among the most photogenic in the Philippines. Entry PHP 50 + bamboo raft PHP 100 to approach the main falls.

    Badian Canyoning: descend the Matutinao river via rappelling and cliff jumps (PHP 500-1,500 depending on agency, 3-4h). Moderate fitness level — no experience needed, local instructors included. Back to Cebu City in the evening. Dinner before tomorrow's Bohol ferry.

    Tips

    • · Book canyoning the day before with a reputable agency (Kawasan Canyoneering) — avoid touts at the base of the falls.
    • · Bring solid strap-back sandals — sneakers slip on wet rocks.
12. 12

    Day 12

    Cebu → Bohol — ferry and settling in Panglao

    Cebu Pier 1 → Tagbilaran (Bohol) fast ferry, 2h, PHP 800 / €13, OceanJet or SuperCat — departures every hour from 6am to 5pm. Arrive Tagbilaran, taxi to Panglao Island (45 min, PHP 1,200-1,500).

    Settle in on Alona Beach, Panglao's main beach — white sand, feet-in-sand restaurants, backpacker vibe blended with a few boutique hotels. Lunch on arrival, afternoon beach or snorkeling from shore (coral reefs 20 m from the waterline). Dinner at Bohol Bee Farm Restaurant if reservations allow (50 min taxi, organic food, edible flowers).

    Tips

    • · Cebu → Tagbilaran ferry: buy tickets the day before on the OceanJet or SuperCat website — port ticket counters are chaotic in peak season.
    • · Alona Beach is a 10-minute walk end-to-end — choose your hotel based on proximity to the reef rather than the area.
    Bohol →
13. 13

    Day 13

    Bohol — Chocolate Hills, tarsiers and Loboc River

    Van or scooter day trip (PHP 200/day) into the interior of Bohol. Chocolate Hills via the Carmen viewpoint (PHP 50 entry) — 1,776 perfectly conical hills, brown in dry season, green otherwise, always photogenic. Tarsier Conservation Area in Corella (PHP 60) — the real sanctuary, not the tourist traps near Alona, animals living semi-free in their natural habitat. Loboc River lunch cruise (PHP 700, 2h, Filipino buffet included).

    Back to Panglao late afternoon. PHP 500 massage on Alona Beach as a reward.

    Tips

    • · Tarsiers: absolute silence and no flash — these 120g primates are among the most stress-sensitive animals on earth and can die from prolonged disturbance.
    • · Chocolate Hills by scooter from Panglao = 90 min each way — prefer a van with driver for PHP 3,000/day if your group exceeds 2 people.
    Bohol →
14. 14

    Day 14

    Bohol — Balicasag diving, dolphins and Siquijor (optional)

    Classic boat tour: dolphin watching (6am departure, wild dolphins in open sea, ~60% success rate), then Balicasag Island (2 dives or intense snorkeling — 20 m coral wall, abundant green turtles, barracudas, PHP 2,500 diving, PHP 1,000 snorkeling). Lunch on Virgin Island (a sandbar with zero shade).

    Advanced option: extend to Siquijor by fast ferry from Tagbilaran (1.5h) — a mystical island known for its shamans, uncrowded beaches (Salagdoong, Paliton) and unique atmosphere in the Philippines. Back to Panglao in the evening, or overnight in Siquijor if the schedule allows.

    Tips

    • · Balicasag: daily quota — book 24h ahead via your hotel, spots fill before 8am in peak season.
    • · Siquijor is mentioned as an optional add-on — visit if J14 wraps early or by adding an extra day.
    Bohol →
15. 15

    Day 15

    Bohol → Caticlan flight — arrival in Boracay

    Tagbilaran (TAG) → Caticlan (MPH) flight, 1h-1h15, €70-130 depending on airline and date. Caticlan is Boracay's airport: at the exit, a highly organised transfer awaits — jetty fee PHP 100 + ferry 15 min PHP 50 + tricycle (all-in terminal combo PHP 500 / €8).

    Arrive Boracay mid-afternoon. Check in on White Beach — Station 2 for lively atmosphere, Station 3 for quiet. Sunset on the beach (Station 1 is the official spot), light dinner at Aria Cucina Italiana or Mañana Mexican.

    Tips

    • · Boracay has banned single-use plastic since 2018: reusable bottle, bags and bamboo straws required.
    • · Eco-fee PHP 300 on arrival at the jetty — keep the receipt, it is checked at departure boarding.
    Boracay →
16. 16

    Day 16

    Boracay — White Beach, parasailing and sunset paraw

    Boracay's signature day. Relaxed morning on White Beach (the finest sand you'll ever walk on — white talcum powder). Boat trip to Crystal Cove Island + Magic Island (cliff jumping 4-15 m, splash pool option, PHP 600, 3h). Lunch on the sand.

    Afternoon parasailing (PHP 1,500, 100 m above the beach, full bay view). 5pm: board a paraw (traditional Philippine outrigger sailboat, PHP 800-1,000) for the sunset — 1h at sea, orange light over the islands. Dinner at Nigi Nigi Nu Noos for authentic Filipino cuisine.

    Tips

    • · Parasailing at 5pm → golden light over White Beach, photos are exceptional.
    • · Paraw: negotiate PHP 800 instead of the displayed PHP 1,200 — tourist prices are systematically inflated.
    Boracay →
17. 17

    Day 17

    Boracay — Crocodile Island snorkeling and Station 2 evening

    Morning snorkeling at Crocodile Island (the crocodile-shaped island off Boracay's north tip) — intact coral reefs, moray eels, lionfish, turtles. Boat tour 1h each way, 2h on site, PHP 800.

    Free afternoon: kitesurfing at Bulabog Beach (east side, steady wind, beginner lesson PHP 3,500), or simply hammock, cocktail and reading on White Beach. Last Boracay sunset from Station 1 (the best viewpoint). Station 2 evening: beachfront bars with live music, Willy's Rock for low-tide photos.

    Tips

    • · Kitesurfing at Bulabog: wind is constant from November to May — lessons with Hangin Kite Center or Funboard Kite Center, IKO-certified schools.
    • · Last Boracay night: pack bags early as tomorrow's Caticlan airport departure is very early.
    Boracay →
18. 18

    Day 18

    Caticlan → Cebu → Siargao flights — the big jump to surf country

    The most logistically complex day of the circuit: MPH → CEB flight (1h, €60-90) + connection CEB → IAO (Siargao) (55 min, €60-90). Cebu layover usually 2-3h — minimum 2h connection required. Total flight budget for the day: €120-180.

    Arrive at Siargao Airport (IAO) early or mid-afternoon. Van transfer to General Luna (30 min, PHP 300). Check in at a surf camp or resort on the coast. First glimpse of Cloud 9 in the late afternoon — even without surfing, the spot is spectacular from the boardwalk.

    Tips

    • · Book both flights on a single booking if possible — if MPH → CEB is delayed, the airline must rebook you on the next Siargao flight.
    • · Siargao has no ATM in General Luna — withdraw in Cebu or arrive with enough cash for 3 days (allow PHP 4,000-6,000).
19. 19

    Day 19

    Siargao — Cloud 9, surf lesson and lagoons

    Morning: surf lesson at Cloud 9 (Southeast Asia's most famous reef break, a world-class hollow right-hander). Beginners and intermediates can surf Jacking Horse or Stimpy's (stronger waves) — 1.5h lesson with local instructor (PHP 1,500-2,000, board included). Advanced surfers: the Cloud 9 wall at high tide is an unforgettable experience.

    Afternoon: Siargao lagoon tour by motorbike — Sugba Lagoon (boat from Del Carmen, PHP 500, turquoise water surrounded by mangroves), back to General Luna for sunset from the jetty.

    Tips

    • · Surf level required for Cloud 9: intermediate minimum (able to read waves, duck dive). The reef is shallow — beginners must surf the sand-bottom spots.
    • · Motorbike rental in General Luna: PHP 400-500/day, license not requested but helmet mandatory on the main road.
20. 20

    Day 20

    Siargao — Magpupungko, pig island and last evening

    Classic island tour by van or motorbike: Magpupungko Rock Pools (natural pools in coral rocks, accessible only at low tide — arrive before 11am, PHP 30 entry), Sohoton Cove (bat caves, non-stinging jellyfish lake — boat tour PHP 1,500), Naked Island (bare sandbar with no vegetation), Daku Island (coconut island with sheltered beach).

    Last Siargao evening: dinner at Shaka Siargao or Kermit Siargao, the island's best tables. One last cocktail facing the sea before tomorrow's flight.

    Tips

    • · Magpupungko: check low tide times on an app (Tides.net or Windy) — at high tide the rock pools disappear completely.
    • · Sohoton Cove: book in the morning via General Luna agencies, limited to 50 people/day quota.
21. 21

    Day 21

    Siargao → Manila flight — return and international departure

    Last Siargao morning — coffee facing the ocean, sunrise over the coconut palms. IAO → MNL flight (direct or via Cebu), 1.5-2.5h, €80-130. Arrive in Manila mid-day depending on the schedule.

    If the international flight is in the evening (10pm-2am, typical for departures to Europe), Manila transit time may allow a farewell lunch in BGC or a quick last visit. NAIA Terminal 3 is the most modern — arrive 3h before the international flight minimum. Return to Europe ~15h flight.

    Tips

    • · Allow 6h minimum between Siargao and NAIA to absorb a potential delay — a cancelled or delayed Siargao flight can cause a missed international connection.
    • · NAIA Terminal 1 = poor reputation, Terminal 3 = very modern — check your ticket to see which terminal your airline uses.

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